Portugal is being represented by 75 athletes competing at the London 2012 Olympics Games, officially known as the “Games of the XXX Olympiad,” scheduled for July 27 through August 12. The 2012 Portuguese Olympic Mission is headed by Mário Santos.

Four years ago, 78 Portuguese athletes competed in 17 different sports at the 2008 China Olympic Games. Some of the best Portuguese qualified athletes, namely Francis Obikwelu and Nelson , Naide Gomes,and Rui Silva, will not be able to compete in Londond due to recent injuries. Vanessa Fernandes, who had represented Portugal in Beijing, will not be competing in the London either.

The London 2012 Olympic Games will be the tenth Olympic Games. London will become the first city to officially host the modern Olympic Games three times, having previously done so in 1908 and in 1948.

Oscar winning director Danny Boyle will be the artistic director for the spectacular opening ceremony called ‘The Isles of Wonder.’

A total of 205 nations will take part in 300 events at the Olympic Games in 2012, while 147 nations will take part in the Paralympic Games. Portugal first competed at the Olympic Games in 1912.

About 20,000 performers are expected to take part in Olympic and Paralympic opening and closing ceremonies. The combined TV audiences for the four ceremonies are predicted to be more than four billion people.

The London 2012 Olympic Games will be followed by the 2012 Paralympic Games to take place from 29 August to 9 September.